The program, now in its second term, is a successful liaison between Dungog and District Neighbourcare and food technology students from the high school.

Neighbourcare clients go to the school for six “lessons” with the year 9 and 10 students.

Meals on Wheels coordinator Lurline Trustum hasn’t quite worked out who are the teachers and who are the students.

“I think they both help each other out,” Mrs Trustum said.

“It is an extension of the Meals on Wheels program where clients are encouraged to cook nutritious meals at home.

“We have a specially designed cookbook which is given to each of the clients and the students use this to cook from.

“It encourages one-pot cooking which makes it easier for the clients at home.”

Year 9 student Cheyanne Godfrey said she enjoys cooking with the “older people”.

“We talk about nutrition and cooking and we become friends along the way,” she said.

“We have made savoury mince, smoothies and fish cakes and today we are making apricot chicken and scones.

“I enjoy doing this, it’s good fun.”

Food technology teacher Rosalind Evans said the program has been good for a number of reasons.

“Some of the students don’t have contact with older adults,” Ms Evans said.

“At the start some of the students didn’t really know how to talk to the adults but as time went on you could see the difference, and they became good friends.

“At the start of the second term we had to say no to some students as we had too many who wanted to be a part of the program.

“It’s a really good program . . . the students and adults get so much from each other.”